Big hits elude Whippets in 5-1 setback versus Perkins

By CHUCK RIDENOUR Daily Globe Sports Editor

OREGON — Baserunners were plentiful, but big hits were elusive.

An inability to drive in runs meant the end of the tournament trail for Shelby.

The Whippets saw their 2022 baseball campaign come to a close with a 5-1 loss to Sandusky Perkins in a Division II District semifinal Saturday at the Oregon Rec Center.

SHS was limited to just five hits in the game and stranded 11 runners on the base paths as their season concludes at 16-8.

“We had traffic on the bases, but the big hit eluded us,” said Shelby coach Jon Amicone.

The Whippets had runners on first and third with one out in the top of the first and could not score.

“One way the visiting team on the scoreboard can get momentum is by scoring quickly,” noted Amicone. SHS was foiled in their attempt by a strikeout and a groundout.

Things got considerably worse for the red and gray in the bottom of the first inning when two errors paved the way for four unearned runs. The big blow was a three-run homer by Nolan Thomas with two outs and a 2-2 count.

“The bottom of the first inning was about as bad as it can be. Baseball doesn’t reward bad play and we were forced to play catch up the rest of the way,” said Amicone.

Eventually, completing the game became a three-day odyssey for Shelby and Perkins.

Rain suspended play in the bottom of the third from Fremont Ross. The two teams returned Friday only to be washed out again. The game was then moved to Oregon because of a turf surface in case wet weather tried to foul things up some more.

The Whippets would get as close as 4-1 in the fourth when Landon Kennard singled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Blaine Bowman. The visitors would end the frame with the bases loaded.

After getting back from the first rain delay, Amicone said he talked to his players about expectations and not playing Shelby baseball.

“Saturday we played with energy and were more competitive. We dug ourselves too big of a hole and you can’t do that in a district game against a good team like Perkins,” said the coach of the Whippets.

Collecting hits for SHS were Bowman, Jeremy Holloway, Marshall Shepherd, Luke Shepherd and Kennard.

Likewise, the Pirates totaled five hits. One was the homer by Thomas and a double by Braylon Collier.

Ben Keller was the winning pitcher and he worked 5 1/3 innings. He scattered four hits while striking out six and walking three.

Marshall Shepherd started and went one inning and then returned to pitch the rest of the game Saturday. He allowed five runs on three hits with 10 strikeouts and three walks.

With the season over, Amicone says good to nine seniors — Logan Green, Josh Sickmiller, Jackson Moore, Brock Greenwood, Doran Steele, Bowman, Holloway, M. Shepherd and L. Shepherd.

“They’re nine awesome kids I’ve had since their freshmen year. They’re fun to be around and good people. Obviously, it didn’t end the way we wanted it to. I’ll remember these guys for things other than just baseball,” said Amicone.

Perkins (18-8) advanced to the regional tournament by defeating Sandusky Bay Conference rival Norwalk by a 6-2 score Monday at Fremont Ross.